How I work

Proofreading services

You can email me your document and it will be amended on screen using Track Changes in Microsoft Word. Your document will then be scrutinised and examined! I will return your work by email in two versions - the first will show all my editing in Track Changes, the other will be the final version with all those changes made.  You will therefore be in total control over your document, and will be free to accept or decline any of my amendments.

Alternatively, I can work on PDF documents which can be marked up with comments. I also work using Google Docs.

I normally use British English spellings, but if requested I will use American British spellings. Either way, I will ensure all spellings are consistent. For example, I normally use -ise word endings (eg. specialise, organisation as opposed to specialize, organization) but will of course follow your instructions. I use the following sources: Oxford English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam Webster.

If your work is urgent, I can provide a 24-hour turnaround, depending on the length of the document.

If you would like to submit some work to be proofread, or if you would like a quote, then please send it in Word format to my email address or use the file upload page.
My proofreading service includes the following:
  • Correcting spelling errors: You can’t always rely on your computer’s spellcheck to locate spellings or grammatical errors, or wrong word choice. I undertake a line-by-line proofread to ensure that all spelling and punctuation is perfect. I will ensure that the style of spellings is consistent throughout. For example, I will ensure that all spellings adopt US or British English, according to the client’s requirements.
  • Correcting punctuation: I will ensure that all punctuation is used correctly and appropriately. For instance, I will check for comma splice, inappropriate use of semicolons, and proper and consistent use of single or double quotation marks.
  • Correcting all grammatical errors: I will ensure that your writing is grammatically correct. For instance, I will check for verb agreement errors, overuse of pronouns, etc.
  • Checking academic references and citations: As part of my student proofreading service, I will ensure that your chosen methods of referencing and citations are correctly used and comply with your university style guidelines. For instance, I will check that references comply to Harvard, APA, MLA, Chicago styles. 
  • Clearly show all edits: All proofreading is carried out using Track Changes in Word. All my additions, deletions and suggestions will be indicated in colour (normally red), thus enabling you to see exactly what I have done.

Before sending work for proofreading 

Before sending your manuscript or paper to be proofread, it is worth bearing in mind the following: 
  • Please ensure you do a final spellcheck. This might seem a bit obvious, but you would be surprised how many manuscripts I receive that haven't been put through a spellcheck. I then have to spend valuable time doing this and questioning ambiguity of spelling or meaning with the client. 
  • Please do not use soft returns at the end of lines or paragraphs. This is when you press Shift + Enter at the same time. Please ALWAYS use just the Enter key. This automatically ends the line and begins a new paragraph. This can also save a lot of time when formatting the document. 
  • Please DO NOT use nonbreaking spaces. These are handy when keeping numbers or date formats together so they don't break over the line, but when it comes to formatting your document they can be very problematic. They act like glue by keeping characters together and prevent text from flowing to a new line or a new page. The shortcut is Ctrl + Shift + Space bar. Please keep this to a minimum!  
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